The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss Golf Team Facilities Overhaul
11/6/2018 | Men's Golf, Women's Golf
By Will Redmond, OleMissSports.com
It's been three years in the making and the new Ole Miss golf facilities are taking shape. Bids for construction started early in the year and in March 2018, Ole Miss broke ground on the first major upgrade that will make the Rebel golf facilities second to none in the nation.
"We are incredibly excited to see our vision come to life," said Chris Malloy. "This has been in the works for over three years now, so to be at the finish line is surreal. We are so grateful for the generous donors that have supported this project. Without them, none of this would be possible."
The process went on throughout the summer, and with the widespread rain, the growing in period for the grass was delayed about a month.
The first stage saw the existing private driving range designed and re-leveled, featuring a new tee adjacent to the Herrington Golf Center that will improve sight lines from the practice tee boxes.
The team's two-acre short game area was expanded to nearly eight acres. The existing putting and short game greens were redesigned as part of a new six-hole short game practice course featuring challenging bunkers and a variety of hole layouts for a more enhanced practice environment.
"The golf teams are extremely excited for our top-notch facility to open in the near future," said Kory Henkes. "Our new short game facility will allow our players to simulate any shot that they might encounter during the season."
"The next step in developing one of the premier collegiate facilities in the country will focus on renovations to our current golf house. We are very excited about the positive steps for our programs and we owe a huge thank you to all of our loyal boosters who have helped make our dream become a reality."
It is safe to say that the players are excited about being able to use the new facilities to work on their games.
"We've been so excited to get going on our new facilities," said sophomore Conner Beth Ball. "When they started in the spring it was so awesome to see because everyone thought it was a dream, but the people who believed in our team and donated to us helped make our dream facility a reality."
"Being able to use a facility like this will not only take our teams short game to the next level, but also help us tremendously with recruiting because our new facility is one of the top in the nation."
While the facilities are growing into some of the best in collegiate golf, the Rebel men's and women's programs are also establishing themselves as contenders on a national stage.
On the men's side, the program secured its first individual national title in program history in 2017. Sophomore Braden Thornberry shot 11-under over 72 holes to be the first individual champion in Ole Miss history. He also captured the Fred Haskins Award, the Heisman Trophy of college golf, an honor he shares with some of the greatest to ever play the game, including Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.
Continuing on the golf program's first major milestone, the Ole Miss women had a breakthrough 2017-18 campaign, culminating with a third-place finish in the NCAA San Francisco Regional, which clinched the team's first-ever berth to the NCAA Championships. In addition to the postseason triumph, the year was highlighted by three straight tournament wins to close out the fall season, the only three-tournament win streak in the team's history. The Rebels also won three individual tournament titles, including two by Julia Johnson, who became the program's first SEC Freshman of the Year.
The golf teams wrapped up their fall play at the end of October, and are on a hiatus until late February when the men go to South Florida and the women to Southern California.
It's been three years in the making and the new Ole Miss golf facilities are taking shape. Bids for construction started early in the year and in March 2018, Ole Miss broke ground on the first major upgrade that will make the Rebel golf facilities second to none in the nation.
"We are incredibly excited to see our vision come to life," said Chris Malloy. "This has been in the works for over three years now, so to be at the finish line is surreal. We are so grateful for the generous donors that have supported this project. Without them, none of this would be possible."
The process went on throughout the summer, and with the widespread rain, the growing in period for the grass was delayed about a month.
The first stage saw the existing private driving range designed and re-leveled, featuring a new tee adjacent to the Herrington Golf Center that will improve sight lines from the practice tee boxes.
The team's two-acre short game area was expanded to nearly eight acres. The existing putting and short game greens were redesigned as part of a new six-hole short game practice course featuring challenging bunkers and a variety of hole layouts for a more enhanced practice environment.
"The golf teams are extremely excited for our top-notch facility to open in the near future," said Kory Henkes. "Our new short game facility will allow our players to simulate any shot that they might encounter during the season."
"The next step in developing one of the premier collegiate facilities in the country will focus on renovations to our current golf house. We are very excited about the positive steps for our programs and we owe a huge thank you to all of our loyal boosters who have helped make our dream become a reality."
It is safe to say that the players are excited about being able to use the new facilities to work on their games.
"We've been so excited to get going on our new facilities," said sophomore Conner Beth Ball. "When they started in the spring it was so awesome to see because everyone thought it was a dream, but the people who believed in our team and donated to us helped make our dream facility a reality."
"Being able to use a facility like this will not only take our teams short game to the next level, but also help us tremendously with recruiting because our new facility is one of the top in the nation."
While the facilities are growing into some of the best in collegiate golf, the Rebel men's and women's programs are also establishing themselves as contenders on a national stage.
On the men's side, the program secured its first individual national title in program history in 2017. Sophomore Braden Thornberry shot 11-under over 72 holes to be the first individual champion in Ole Miss history. He also captured the Fred Haskins Award, the Heisman Trophy of college golf, an honor he shares with some of the greatest to ever play the game, including Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.
Continuing on the golf program's first major milestone, the Ole Miss women had a breakthrough 2017-18 campaign, culminating with a third-place finish in the NCAA San Francisco Regional, which clinched the team's first-ever berth to the NCAA Championships. In addition to the postseason triumph, the year was highlighted by three straight tournament wins to close out the fall season, the only three-tournament win streak in the team's history. The Rebels also won three individual tournament titles, including two by Julia Johnson, who became the program's first SEC Freshman of the Year.
The golf teams wrapped up their fall play at the end of October, and are on a hiatus until late February when the men go to South Florida and the women to Southern California.
Players Mentioned
Chris Malloy - 2025 Visit Knoxville Collegiate Preview
Wednesday, September 03
Chris Malloy - NCAA Championships Match Play Presser
Tuesday, May 27
Michael La Sasso - NCAA Championships Round Three Presser
Sunday, May 25
Chris Malloy - NCAA Championships Round Three Presser
Sunday, May 25